Empty-box stacker.



Patented Feb. 4; 1919.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- WITNESS:

A TTORNE YS.

G. D. PARKER.

EMPTY BOX STACKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. 1918.

Patented. Feb. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN VENTOR.

A TTOR NE YS.

WITNESS:

I the like, whereby 'ficing any of the a barren sesame learner @IBFIICE.

GEORGE n. PARKER, or n'rvnnsinn, CALIFORNIA.

EMPTY-BOX STACKER.

messes.

To all whom it may concern Be it be known that I, GEORGE D. PARKER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the county ofRiverside and State of Calif0rnia,'have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in. Empty- Box Stackers, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to an improved stacking apparatus forboxes and more particularl toa type of apparatus adapted for use instacking the newly construeted and labeled boxes used in a packinghouseand in which the fruit is to be packed for shipment.

The object of the'present invention is to automatically stack boxes asthey are delivered to the stacker from a box dump or elevator or as theymay be delivered to the stacker from a conveyer, the boxes being placedupon the conveyer by tl1e sorters or tothe packing room in asystematicmanner and the space occupied thereby .be limited to a minimum. Y Withthe above mentioned and other objects in view the invention consists inthe novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claimshereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope ofthe claims may be resorted to without departin from the spirit orsacrivantages of theinvention. To more fully comprehend the invention,reference is directed to thesaccompanying drawings, wherein: v

Figure l is a view in sidelelevation of the preferred embodiment of myinvention.

Fig. 2- is a view in top plan. Fig. 3 is a view in detail plan of theconveyer clutch and the operating trilp therefor. Fig. 4 is a detailview in sidee evation of one of the clutch mechanisms. 4

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 a of Fig. 4.

Referring moreparticularly to the several views of the drawings whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1, indicatesa suitable supporting member and to the same is secured a pair ofbrackets 2, which pivotally support one end of a suitable box elevatingframe, comprising parallel spaced side members 3 from one endSpecification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 29, 1918.

. ing members 3.

with trated in Figs. 4

the boxes may bedelivered the drawings,

mechanism on an Patented Feb. 41, 1919.. Serial No. 2517,1570.

of which, extend the angularlv disposed arms 4 and the foot members 5which are disposed upwardly, preferably at right angles to the sidemembers 3 when said members he 1n a horizontal plane as in the drawing.The members 3 lie referably when in horizontal position" ad acentsuitable box support- Pivotally connected to the arms 4, throughlinks.6, are cranks 8 carried by. a hub 9, keyed to rotate with a shaft10 ournaled at its ends in suitable bearings. the shaft being driven bya suit-able gear 11 operated by a power pinion l2. The shaft is capableof free rotation within the gear 11 but is adapted to be interlockedthere by a suitable clutch mechanism illusand 5 of the drawings, andpreferably constructed in the following manner: The hub 13 of the clutchis-preferably cored and carries a serrated ring 15 within which isreceived a clutch hub 16, keyed to rotate with the shaft 10, the clutchhub on its outer surface is provided with a recess 18, in which ismounted a dog 19, pivotally supported at its outer end as at 20, and thefree end of said dog being forced outwardly as inFig. 5 of the drawings,by a s ring 21.

On the reception of the free end 0- the dog 19 in one of theserrations'of the rin 15 the shaft 10 and the gear 11 are locke torotatein unison, however in this device single rotation of these elements atmittent intervals is desired, the same controlled by a scribed.

The side members 3 of the frame normally lie in a ,horizontal position,as in only a mechanism hereinafter diethe emptied boxes to be stackedare fed preferably from the labeling machine thereto by the followingmechanism: ,The boxes are placed preferably by an attendant or thesame-may be positioned by automatic endless eonveyer 22, disposed inline with the frame and having spaced conveyerbars 23 on the outersurface thereof, said conveyer at one end operating over a roller 24carried by a shaft 25, journaled in suitable bearings and said shaftcarrieson its enda drive sprocket 26,

provided with a hub 27, of similar construction to that illustrated inFigs. 4 and 5 of the drawings and employed in connection with the gear11. lVithin this hub is positioned a clutch mechanism similar to thatillustrated in- Figs. f aud 5 of the inter-- being and when in thisposition,

drawings and cooperating with the gear 11. description of this clutch inconnection with the conveyer belt 2; is not thought to be necessary, thepurpose of the clutch being to provide intermittent movement forthe belt2:! when the frame is in a certain position. A trip mechanism foroperating the clutch is constructed in the following mantit) by theweight of the frame when ;.piitli of movement or 2 J thereby permittingcontinuous movement ner: A trip finger 28 is positioned with itsfree-end adjacent the pawl 19 of the conof the couveyer belt; 1'. duringsuch time as the frame is in horizontal position the boxes as receivedon the belt 2:2 are con veyed thereby onto the side rails or member 23of the frame, the boxes within their side walls in engagement and thelast conveyed box conveying those on the frame longitudinally thereofboxes contact with the foot member 5, the frame now being filled to itscapacity with empty boxes. As the foremost contacts '\\lili the footmember 5, the same rests on the trip lever 31, pivotally mounted toasupport as at 32 an connected at its lower end through a link 33, withone end of a bell-crank 3t fulcrumed as at. 35, the free,

end of said bell-crank being adapted formovement into the path ofrotation of the. dog 19, thus it will e apparent that on the tipping ofthe arm 32 of the foremost box contacting with the foot 5. the free endof the bell-crank 3% is withdrawn from contact with the dog 19permitting the spring 21 to foree'the dog upwardly to cause asimultaneous movement of the gear 11 and shaft 10 which movement pivotsthe frame on the support '2, raising the free end thereof to the dottedline position Fig, 2 of thedrawiug. This movement enables the spring 36to elevate the free end of hellcrank 30 and cause'a disengagement of thedog 19 from the. hub 27 of the conveyer -belt drive, thus arresting themovement of the conveyerbelt. As in the drawing, the

movement of the frame is slightly beyond a vertical position. at whichtime the boxes as supportet'l by the foot member 5 are deposited on asuitable empty box receiving truck 37', capable of being positionedbetween the supports 2 and movable on small casters 3%; the depositingof the boxes in rotation of the dog until the foremost.

to the. stacker, -to deliver the boxes to t-he'eonveying truck stackedformation upon the truck causes a slight moven'ieut of the truck awayfrom the elevated frame providing a space tor the reception of the nextstack of boxes re-.

ceivcd on the side members 3 of the frame. The release of the boxes'from the frame when the same is in its lifted position relievespi'essili'e' frolii the trip.member 31 and permits the weight of thetrip 31 to move the free end of the bell-crank 34 conneetcd therewithinto the path of movement. of the dog 19, and as the gear 11 completesitsrevolution lowering the frame to a horizontal position the dogltl isreleased from its engaged serratiou permitting the shaft It) to remainidle. -'l.liis lowering of the frame to horizontal position also throwsthe clutch mechanism associated with the conveyer 22 into position tocause the operation of the conveyer.

From my present construction it will be apparent that the conveying ofthe boxes the operation of the stacker and the return of the stacker tonormal posi tion are all automatic movements and it is only necessarythat means he provided for placing'the boxes on the conveyer and forremoving the truck as the same is filled with emptied boxes.

Having thus described my invention, what. I claim is: I

"1. An apparatus for receiving and stacking receptacles in verticalunit, rows, comprising a horizontally disposed frame fillcriimed at oneend and provided at its -t'ul-- crium end with a lateral unit rowsupporting projection, a receptacle unit row receiving member positionedadjacent the fulcruined end of said frame for successively receiving thevertical unit rows of receptacles from said frame, means forsuccessively feeding receptacles onto the free end of said frame to formthereon a horizontal row of receptacles, and receptacle controlled meansthrown into operation on the completion of the formation of a horizontalrow of recep-. tacles on said frame for causing movement of said frameon its fulcrum to raise said horizontal row of receptacles tosubstantially vertical position to discharge said receptacles therefromin a vertical row onto said receiving member and for returning saidframe to horizontal position.

2. An'appartus for receiving and stacking receptacles in vertical unitrows, comprising a horizontally disposed frame fulcrumed at one end andprovided at its fulcrum end with a lateral projection, a receptacle unitrow receiving member'positioncd ad acent' the fnlcrumed end of saidframe for successively receiving the vertical unit rows of receptaclesfrom said frame, means for saccessively feeding receptacles onto thefree end of'said frame to form thereon a horillti ' ful prlslng ahorizontally disposed frame crum end with alateral crum end with a.lateral zontal row -o"f;receptacles, means controlled by thereceptaclespositioned on said frame for causing movementof said frameonits crum to raise said horizontal row of receptacles to substantiallyvertical osition to discharge said receptacles there rom in a verticalrow onto said receiving member and for returning said frame tohorizontal position of the receptacle feeding means during the movementof said frame.

3. An apparatus for receiving and stacking receptacles in vertical unitrows, cgllll'llcrurned at one end and provided at its fulprojection, areceptacle unit row receiving member positioned adjacent the fulcrumedend of said frame or successively receiving the vertical unit rows ofreceptacles from said frame, means for successively feeding receptaclesonto the free end of said frame to form thereon a horizontal row ofreceptacles, controlled means for causing movement of said frame on itsfulcrum toraise said horizontal row of receptacles to substantiallyvertical. position to discharge said receptacles therefrom in a verticalrow onto said receiving member and for returning said frame tohorizontal position, and means controlled by the movement of said framefor interrupting the feed ing of receptacles to said frame during theraising and lowering of the free end thereof.-

4. An apparatus ing receptacles in vertical unit rows, comprising ahorizontally disposed frame fulcrumed at one endv and provided at itsfulprojection, a receptacle unit row receiving member positionedadjacent the fulcrumed end of said frame for successivelyireeeivingthe-vertical unit rows of receptacles from said ;frame, means forsuccessively feeding receptacles onto the free end 'ofsaid frame to formthereon. a horizontal row of receptacles, and intermit tently operatedmeans controlled bythe re ceptacles positioned on said mg movement ofsaid frame on. its fulcrum to raise said horizontal row of receptaclesto substantially vertical position to discharge said receptaclestherefrom in a vertical row onto said receiving member and for returningsaid frame. to horizontal position.

5. An apparatus for receiving and stacking receptacles in vertical unitrows, comprising a horizontally disposedframefuh crumed at one end andprovided at its fulcrum end with a lateral projection, a receptacle unitrow receiving member t oned adjacentthe fulcrumed end frame forsuccessively receiving the vertical unit rows of, rece means forsuccesslvely posiptacles from said frame; feeding receptacles,

- causing movement of said erum to raise said horizontal row ofrecepdischarge the same therefrom for receiving and stack-* frame forcaus-' row of boxes thereon,

tacles to substantially vertical position to discharge said receptaclestherefrom in a vertical row onto said receiving member and tion, andmeans for interrupting the operafor returning said frame to horizontalposition. I

6. An apparatus for receiving receptacles deposited thereon in ahorizontal row and for stacking the same in a vertical row unit. thesame comprising a horizontally disposed frame fulcrumed at one end andprovided at its fulcrum end with a lateral projection, a receptacle unitrow receiving truck positioned adjacent the fulcrum end of said framefor successively receiving the vertical of receptacles from said frame,an endless conveyer for depositing receptacles onto said frame and forcausing movement thereof longitudinally of said frame to force theforemost receptacle of said horizontal row .mto contact with saidlateral projection, and

causing movement of said frame on its fulcrum to raise the row ofreceptacles thereon to substantially vertical position and to in avertical row onto said truck and for returning said frame to horizontalposition.

An apparatus for receiving receptacles deposited thereon in a-horizontalrow and forstacking the safiieiifa vertical row unit, the samecomprising a horizontally disposed frame fulcrumed at one end andprovided at its fulcrum end with a lateral projection, a receptacle unitrow receiving truck positioned am'e for successively receiving thevertical unit rows of receptacles from said frame,

means for depositing receptacles successively onto said frame and forcausing move ment thereof longitudinally of said frame to force theforemost receptacle of said horicontact with said lateral prozontal rowinto jection, actuating 'means for raising and lowering said frame onthe completion of a and a trip member actuated by a receptacle on saidframe for throwing said actuating means into operation.

8. An apparatus for the described purv.p'ose comprising an elongatedframe fula horizontal axis,

onto the free end of said frame to form" thereon a horizontal row ofreceptacles, and

means-for; raising crumed at one end for pivotal-movement onlongitudinal row when said frame is in substantially horizontal"position, actuating said frame from horizonml to Vertical position onthe completion of a row of receptacles thereon,

a trip member actuated by a receptacle on said frame for unit rows 4adjacent the fulcrumed end of said an endless conveyer for feedingreceptacles onto said frame in a i aaaiaa throwing said actuating meansinto opera- Iii testimony whereof I have signed my tion, means forreceiving the vertical row of name to this specification in the presenceof receptacles as a unit from said frame when two subscribing witnesses.

the same is in substantially vertical posi- GEORGE D. PARKER. 5 tion,and means for interrupting the opera- Witnesses:'

tion of saidconveyer during' such time as S. A. MARKS, I

said frame is notrin horizontal position. CHAS F. BRooKHART.

